Flash issues on 300d

[jay24k]

I noticed while taking pictures up close (within 6 feet), sometimes the pictures come out dark or too bright. I almost have to take a bunch of pictures to make it get right.

Is this normal? I'm thinking about getting an external flash but haven't got it yet.
This happens mainly on indoors but with pretty good lighting (in a mall) and sometimes outside.

[Dubsta]

From recent experience, the internal flash sucks. Get yourself a nice Speedlite, I picked up the 580ex and it is a whole world of difference...It really helps you take advantage of the camera...

[Dubsta]

Just for an example, I took this shot to test the flash the other night when I picked it up. This was taken in my living room at night, with only a tiny bit of light from the television....it was basically dark, could not really see her throught the viewfinder.

Also, boucned the flash off of the ceiling...and this is what I came up with, nothing was done to the photo in PS either, it was only resized...and posted...

I love the 580EX!

[robertwgross]

Like anything else, the Digital Rebel's built-in flash is OK, but it is not great. The Guide Number is small, so it can be effective at short range. If you are too close to the subject, then you might max it out and overexpose. If you are too far away, then it's dark. It's OK on a limited basis.

Now, the good news is that if you put an external Speedlite on it, you have much more light to deal with. The Guide Numbers are much greater, so you can reach out a lot farther. You can bounce and do all sorts of interesting things. If you have a camera with Flash Exposure Compensation, then you need to practice a bit, but you can achieve a whole lot of control over lighting. If your camera does not have FEC, then get the 550EX or 580EX, because they have that in the flash. If you really want to gild the lily, you can use multiple Speedlites to achieve wireless near-studio results. In fact, I believe Speedlites were designed to be the wireless portable near-equivalent to studio lights.

The bad news with a Speedlite is that you have to study all of Scottbergerphoto's stickies and practice until you get it right. He is available for tutoring, and his rates are reasonable.

---Bob Gross---

[tim]

I've been using a 550EX for a few months, and I still haven't mastered it. Shots often come out a bit dark, and occasionally come out too bright at least in the highlights. Generally I use the hstogram to work it out, except last time I used it, because I was drunk at a work function and I forgot ;)

[robertwgross]

Generally, at the point in time right after the end of a wedding, I will be pretty good with my 550EX. At the beginning, I'm not.

Although it works pretty good in fully automatic mode, like everything else, it isn't perfect, but I generally have to fool with it for the first part of a wedding before I fall into an easy flow of flash shooting. Its advanced features are not trivial.

---Bob Gross---

[Dubsta]

I need all the help I can get with the 580ex...I have not even really touched it yet...

[Digital Prophet]

Lord I thought I was the only idiot on the planet that couldn't figure out how to use thier 550. I bought mine used so I had to download the manual. And I do think that reading it has helped alot. But there is nothing like practicing and becoming comfortable with your equipment.

Practice I got. Comfort .. eh not so much so. But I will get there.

- Digital Prophet -

[jay24k]

Thanks for the tips. I'm going to have to pick one up.